What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie is a story about murder, privilege and money. After suspiciously dying at his 60th birthday party, Anthony Wistern is thrust into an excruciatingly dull afterlife where he is forced to watch the events that follow his death. Meanwhile, his infuriatingly posh family impatiently await their inheritance and adjust to life without their financial benefactor.
This mysterious circumstance gains media attention from major news outlets prompting an amateur online detective to begin their own criminal investigation. This results in a trial by media storm, where The Sleuth interrogates members of the Wistern family to uncover the truth about the finance mogul’s death.
This story is written from multiple perspectives throughout the book ranging from the internet sleuth to Olivia, the scorned wife. Together, the reader and Anthony Wistern watch the ensuing events unfold from the afterlife. This element of quasi-realism allows us to objectively view the snobbery of his family members, with a humorous commentary from Anthony himself. Mackie scatters local newspaper articles throughout the story, giving the reader insight into public intrigue and social commentary.
Every character in this book is infuriatingly unrelatable, even the internet sleuth. The person who seems most annoyed by this is Anthony himself. Not even his wife and mother of their children, Olivia, appreciate the people who surround her, nor does she have any allies in her interesting display of grief. In fact, her greatest despair is the flop of her husband’s funeral, which should have been the social event of the season.
An orderly in the afterlife politely notifies him, “we’re going to move you to a solitary room for the time being. Think of it as an upgrade, like I’m sure you’ve been waiting for.” Mackie’s writing is meticulous, and her narratives spare no detail. The plot expertly dissects the intersection between privilege and humanity, where having money doesn’t place you above the rest. Death’s waiting room is used as the primary example where Anthony’s pomposity and lack of self-awareness irritates the other patrons.
The story tackles themes of entitlement and wealth, including the snobbery and corruption behind financial elitism. It is a book dripping in privilege, which offers no mercy in the afterlife. Regardless of how rich and seemingly successful you are in your mortality, death’s waiting room is an equaliser. A cold place to watch your family’s grief unfold and judge them for not caring as much as you’d like them to.
Overall, What a Way to Go is a darkly enjoyable read due to its polished prose and unique plot however, at times I wished for slightly more suspense. Mackie’s masterful writing style allows no room for speculation, neatly tying up each loose end. None of the characters were likable or normal, but it is a truth universally acknowledged that the goal for the wealthy isn’t to be liked, it’s to be talked about. In which case, the novel succeeds.
Rating: 3/5
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